The temptation whenever my computer keeps freezing up after software changes were made is to try removing the application (the catch-all approach). However I found a better way to troubleshoot and resolve the problem. In this article I’ll step through some of utilities and checks that can help resolve the problem more easily.

The main thing to understand when the laptop keeps freezing is that even though error messages that do not get displayed on screen, they may still be getting logged in the event viewer [start menu/run program/enter eventvwr]. This handy utility keeps track of all manner of error messages and general information relating to your operating system and applications. Identify those messages that where entered leading up to your computer freeze. These can then be researched online to highlight specific applications or hardware components that are to blame/at fault.

When searching for error codes it is important to start by focusing on manufacturer websites for known performance issues and customer support tickets which detail the same problem. This should hopefully identify workarounds that have already been tested or patch updates which can help resolve the problem. Only resort to unaffiliated third party user forums for the product as a secondary source of information (since the solutions may be untested fully).

There are occasions however when my computer keeps freezing up and error codes are not displayed. If the issue definitely relates to a specific program then the first step is to make sure you have the latest updated version of the product. Secondly, check the Task Manager application (in particular the processes tab) for details of any excessive memory usage. This may indicate that the application has a threading issue.

Finally, it could be your laptop keeps freezing due to shared registry key settings. Your application may be reusing key configuration values that are also being manipulated or altered by other programs on the system. The best way to fix this is to use a good quality registry cleaner to automate the process rather than attempting to manually modify their settings yourself (since this could damage shared settings for multiple programs).

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